Effect of erythritol and sucralose formulation on the survivorship of the mosquito Aedes aegypti

Authors: Maestas, Lauren; Lee, Jana; Choi, Man-Yeon

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/3/2023
Publication Date: 6/22/2023
Citation: Maestas, L.P., Lee, J.C., Choi, M.Y. 2023. Effect of erythritol and sucralose formulation on the survivorship of the mosquito Aedes aegypti. Florida Entomologist. 106(2):129-132. https://doi.org/10.1653/024.106.0210.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1653/024.106.0210

Interpretive Summary: Erythritol is an artificial sweetener and non-caloric sugar, and is safe for human consumption. Recently, erythritol alone or combined with sugar (sucrose) showed insecticidal properties to many insect pests when they ingested the solutions. We developed a novel erythritol formulation that can be combined with sucralose, a non-caloric sweetener, the main ingredient of Splenda, and sucrose substitute in foods. The erythritol and sucralose formulation significantly enhanced efficacy and is a less sticky solution to spray on crops. In this study, we tested the formulation against a medical insect pest, the yellow fever mosquito, that is a vector of human pathogens, such as dengue and zika virus. A long history of chemical use has led to broad-spectrum resistance to chemical insecticides, and to develop alternative control methods have been pursued. Our results showed the erythritol and sucralose formulation killed mosquitoes. There is the potential for erythritol to be developed as a new way to control mosquitos.

Technical Abstract: Erythritol, a non-nutritive four-carboned polyol, was demonstrated to have insecticide properties against various Arthropod pests. The erythritol formulations combined with sucrose, as a phagostimulant, enhanced consumption and insecticidal efficiency on the pests. However, adding sucrose contributes nutritional carbohydrate resources in the same pests, develops potential microbes in the field, and creates a sticky on plants spayed the solution. In this study, we tested and compared erythritol formulations combined sucrose or sucralose, and identified insecticidal activities on adults of the mosquito Aedes aegypti. The erythritol and sucralose formulation is a less sticky solution and significantly reduced the survivorship of adult mosquitoes, and it may have merit in as an alternative method for mosquito control.